WT/GC/W/808/Rev.1  
 
1 December  2021 
(21-9059) Page: 1/2 
General Council  Original: English  
 
  
DRAFT GENERAL COUNCIL DECLARATION  
ACTION PLAN TO ENHANCE SUPPORT FOR COTTON BY -PRODUCT  
DEVELOPMENT IN LDCS  
Communication from Burkina Faso on behalf of the C -4 and Côte d'Ivoire  
Revision  
The following communication, dated 26 November 2021, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Burkina Faso on behalf of the C -4 and Côte d'Ivoire.  
 
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The General Council,  
Recalling the Ministerial Decisions of Nairobi in 2015 (WT/MIN(15)/46 of 21  December  2015) a nd 
Bali in 2013 (WT/MIN(13)/41 of 11  December  2013) on cotton development assistance;  
Reaffirming the importance of enhanced investments and technology transfer enabling the 
development of sustainable cotton by -product industries that contribute to poverty  alleviation 
through value addition, better integration into national, regional and international value chains, and 
ensuing income generation in cotton -producing developing countries, especially the least -developed 
countries (LDCs) ; 
Taking into account the commitment of the Secretariats of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the 
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the International Trade Centre 
(ITC), within the framework of the joint initiative on cotton by -product de velopment, approved by 
WTO Members at the meeting of the WTO Director -General's Consultative Framework Mechanism on 
Cotton (DGCFMC) of 21  November  2018;  
Taking into account the support and cooperation of the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), the 
Interna tional Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), the United Nations Industrial Development 
Programme (UNIDO) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO);  
With a view to enhancing the impact of action taken by the co -sponsors of the Sectoral Init iative in 
Favour of Cotton (C4) in collaboration with development partners;  
Declares that:  
We, WTO Members, recognise the goal of cotton -producing developing countries in particular LDCs 
of achieving increased revenues from cotton for stakeholders, especia lly smallholder and women 
farmers, by developing and adding value to cotton by -products.  
We share the assessment by cotton -producing developing countries that additional income earning 
opportunities from cotton by -products could also increase resilience ag ainst market shocks as 
witnessed during the presently experienced COVID -19 pandemic.  WT/GC/W/808/Rev.1  
 
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  We highlight the important contribution that, among other tools to achieve sustainable development, 
the circular economy and the utilization of wastes and residues in the value chain, followed by their 
processing and commercialization as cotton by -products can make to the transition towards 
sustainable agricultural practices, as appropriate and in accordance with national circumstances.  
We further note the significance for cotton -producing developing countries of food/feed -related 
cotton by -products for increased food security.  
We recognize the opportunities and challenges faced in developing countries and especially the LDCs, 
in particular by micro, small and medium -sized e nterprises, in relation to the production, local 
processing and commercialization of cotton and its by -products.  
 
We also recognize the important role of the WTO in promoting an open, transparent, non -
discriminatory and predictable trade regulatory environ ment that facilitates the production, local 
processing and commercialization of cotton and its by -products.  
We aim to encourage public and private sector stakeholders to support enhanced investments and 
technology transfer to achieve the above -mentioned go als through the development of viable cotton 
by-product industries in LDCs.  
By the same token, technical assistance and capacity building activities should enable and 
accompany enhanced investments and technology transfer for cotton by -products in LDCs, wi th 
priority to activities aimed at:  
(1) Increased engagement of public and private sector stakeholders in commercial 
initiatives to add value to cotton by -products.  
(2) Enhanced capacity of cotton farmers, including women farmers, to collectively engage 
in value addition activities for cotton and its by -products (SDG  5). 
(3) Strengthened capacities of farmer representative groups to negotiate appropriate 
remuneration for produced fibres and by -products.  
(4) Enhanced capacity of cottonseed processors to impr ove oil recovery rates and market 
by-products effectively, including through modern, cost -competitive production 
techniques and technologies.  
(5) Improved capacity of policy makers to formulate evidence -based policies and ensure 
policy coherence in support  of the development of cotton by -products.  
(6) Identifying the means to contribute to increased revenues for cotton producers and 
processors as well as for poverty reduction (SDGs 1, 8 and 10), including through the 
creation of sustainable and resilient in dustrial and trade -related infrastructure to the 
benefit of cotton producers and processors (SDGs 9 and 12).  
(7) Promoting consideration of ways in which economic operators in cotton value chains can 
be supported through appropriate assistance.  
(8) Engagem ent with existing mechanisms and programs for promoting transfer of 
technology and building capacity to add value to cotton by -products through technology 
transfer measures and technical and financial cooperation under Article 66.2 and 
Article  67 respectiv ely of the Agreement on Trade -Related Aspects of Intellectual 
Property Rights (TRIPS).  
We undertake to continue to conduct in the Consultative Framework a dedicated and focused 
discussion on these elements.  
We encourage other partners from the development community to join us and to support and 
enhance the development of cotton by -products in developing countries and especially the LDCs.  
We shall receive reports about progress on the implementation of this Joint -Action Plan at future 
WTO Ministerial Confere nces and, on a regular basis, at DGCFMC meetings.  
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